Telephone-swifch



3Sheets-Sheet 1. G. WESTINGHGUSE, 'Jr.

Telephone Switch.

Patented 'Feb. 1,188i.

G. WESTINGHOUSE, Jr. Telephone switch.

No. 237, 22 Pawn-tied Feb. 1,1881.

3 Sheets$i1eet 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT-f OFFICE.

GEORGE wnsrmonoiisasn, or Prrrsnunc, PENNSYLVANIA.

.T'ZILE'PHQNE-SWITCH.

armors-manor; coiling pa ser Letters Patent No. 237.222, dated February 1,1ea1.

, Appliontiomflled February 7,1880.

Telephone-Switches; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, concise, and

exact description thereof, reference being bad to the-accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification; in whioh like letters indicating like parts- I Figure 1, Sheet 1, isaview, in perspective,

of a telephone-switch apparatus illustrative of part of my present invention. Fig. 4 (on the some sheet) is a detached view, in persp'ecti're (but to a reduced scale) of-thc disks,

contact-pieces, &c., and more particularly do:

signedto'illnstrate' the relationship to each other of theprojcctions on the disks by means broken.

of which successive circuits are made and Fig. 2, Sheet 2, is a transverse ver-' tical section oi the apparatus of Fig. 1 in the plane of the line was. of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is partly a top or plan view of the same apparatus and 'part-lyas'ection in. the line 3 y of Fig. 2. Fig.

5, Sheet 3, isa sectional-elevationin the plane 011 the line w m, of Fig. 3; and Fig. 6illustrates, by outline diagram, the manner of embodying my presentimprovements into a tcle- A phone system.

In general'terms'the apparatus embodying the present invention may be said to consist of a union orconsolidation of the main elements of utility embraced in patents granted to me December 30, 1S79,-Nos. 228,201 and 223,202, together with the addition of certain features'which go to perfect the union. The

' system of apparatus to which said patents relate, and to which. thepresent improvement '40.

'. 1 or exchange, such substantially asis common also relates, involves-a main or central station in city telephonic systems, an outlying or aux iliaryJstat-ion or exchange, where the wires of two or more local users can conveniently and advantageously be hrought together, and the apparatus so constructed and combined that the-.pperator atflthecentral exchange is-snbjecttocall from any one of the local users,

and can also calL one or more local users, and

alsocan put a'ny two local users in telephonic communication with each other, all the other users being 'thenilocked out. In my present invention I provide for the doing of term the main-line wire, between the central and the auxiliary exchanges; also, in the present apparatus I use, by preference, only a single battery, but that of considerable power, at the central station, by which to operate the hold conversation.

In the drawings, F represents any suitable frame-work, madeof non conductingmaterial. This frame-work, with the appliances belonging thereto, is to be arranged at the auxiliary exchange Y, Fig. 6. The main-line wire s, which leads from the central exchange, Y, Figh6, .is secured-to, the hindingpost 1, Figs. 2 and 3. From' this post a wire, (1, ,leads through the magnet A to-the binding-post 0, and a wire, a, leads thence (under the ma Wires 8, s, s,'-and s lead one from each local user to the binding-posts 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively. Posts 2 and Z are for ground-connections; also, post 2 has a wire connection,

will be presently explained.

P and P, one of which, I, has acord and work mechanism, 1), -for winding it up. On a shaft, P, is an escapement-wheel, P, which operates in connection with the e'scapementarms shown on the end of the lever A, by which to permit, as may be desired,the proper movement, step 'by step, oft-he shaft 1?. escapemcnt-shaft is gearedyal's at p", to the shaftP', and P is also geared to I? by gearing; as at 0. As the teeth and catches of the eseapement go out of engagement with each on the cord 1), acting through gearing p, of-

eatchesof the esoapenient again engage they arrestthe rotation ofthe shaft 1?", and consequently of the shafts P and 'P'. This escapeof an armature, A, pivoted to a bracket, A. A set-screw, A passes through the stem of this armature and bears on the free. end of the escapcment-lever A, which'is pivoted to auxiliary apparatus, and also make calls and chine for convenience) to a metallic plate, 8.

In the frame-work are two rotating shafts,

The

. ment is" operated from the magnet A-by means this work by the use of afsingle wire, which I v s, with a metallic post, 9, the function of which vveight,p.for effecting its rotation,and a clockother, the shaft P is unlocked and the weight fccts the rotation of- P'; butas the-teeth and rec l a post, A and its motion is regulated by a On the shaft P, I arrange aseries of disks,

B B I? B B B The lastof these disks, B, has a cylindrical periphery, and on each of the others is a projection, c c a c 0, Figs. 4 and .5, the function of which will be presentlyexplained.

Under or opposite each disk is a contactpiece, preferably having a slight spring action, the same being lettered e e e e -e e. The

first contact-piecc is connected by a wire, I),

with post 2, and the successive posts 3 6, by like wires b b, are connected with contact-pieces e e in order. Also, opposite the disks B B, I arrange a series of switch-posts, i, one to each disk. ing coutact-piece-e' e is carried up and over the endof its switch-post in a hook shape, as shown at e, Figs. 2 and 5, so as toform a series of switch-springs. This hook shape is such and the spring action is such that the escapement-levcrs .D, presently to be described,

when in one position, will be in electrical contact with the corresponding switch-springs,

and the latter willbe clear of theswitch-posts, as shown in Fig. 2 by full lines; but when in their other positionv such cont-act will be broken and the switch-springs will come into electrical contact with the switch-posts, as shown by dotted lines in the same figure.

At D, 'I have shown a series of escapement locking and unlockinglcvers,corresponding in number with the local users, and arranged one opposite each revolving disk and switch-post. D is simply a'lockin g and unlooking lever, and has a weighted locking-arm, d, and an unlocking-arm, (1. Each of the levers D has a like unlocking-arm, d, and a weighted ocking-arm, d, and ahook-ended eseapement-arnnd. The weighted lockiiig-arinsdoperate,by projecting pins d, on or in the slots 9 of a non-conducting locking-bar,G, in the manner substantially as described in Patent No. 223,201, above referred. to. The books on the cndsof the'escapementarmsd engage counter-hooks on the ends of arinatu rc-levers h. Each such lever is pivoted on and makes electrical communication with the adjacent arm of the core of a magnet, H, and the end of the lever over the otherarm of the magnet has sufficient -ran'ge of motion to be raised and depressed far enough for the hooks at h to beengaged and disengaged thereby. These magnets, &c., correspond in number with the local users, and the ground-con nectionfis made from them by-carrying their ground-wires to a metallic plate, 10, in which is mountedtheground-wire post'7, from which awir m, Fig. 2 leads to the ground. The unlock tug-arms arsthrown forward by means The tail end of each correspond' of wristsor projections n, one on each of the rotating disks B B, and each such arm has a I shoulder, knob, or projection, as, through which contact is made or broken with the switchsprings cf.

Thelocking-bar G is mounted in pivoted supports G, and its range of motion is limited, as may be desired, by means of set-screws g. One'ofthesesupports, made of metal, is pivoted .on the plate 8', so as at all. times to be in elec trical communication therewith, and when. the

apparatus is in its normal or zero position that 7.

support G'and its plate 8 are in electrical communication, by the metallic set-screw, with the post 9.

To complete the wire connections inthis apparatns-a'wire, a", is run from the plate 8 to the contaetpiece e, and in doing so passes under the feet a" of each of the switch-postsi, so as at all times 'to'be inelectrical contact therewith. \Vhen the apparatus is in its normal or zero position the operator at the central station has a circuit through the main-line wire 8, wires a, magnet A, wire a, plate 8, locking-bar support G setscrew ost9 wire 8" ost2 and wire w to the g|'ound, all other main-line connections being then broken at some point; for, although the wire a also leads from the post 2 to contact-piece c which' is always in contact with disk B all of the other disks on the shaft 1?" are clear ofthe corresponding contact-pieces e to e--that is, the projectionsc'c are away from the contact-piec'es-and as the lever D has then no further electriealconnection to put' it into any circuit, it is practically. insulated. Also, in the normal or zero posit-ion each local user has *a circuit throughthe apparatus, to illustrate which I-will take user'No.,1, whose wires is connected with the post 3. The-wire b from that post goes to contact-piece e, which latter, by its tail-piece at '0 is in contact with V the knob or shoulder a: of the unlocking-arm d of the corresponding lever D. Thence electrical communication is through theengaged or interlocked armature-hooks at h, armaturelever h,-magnet H,=plate 10, and post 7 tothe ground-wire w.

In Sheet 3, Fig. 6, is shown by diagram the relation of stations and connections, so far as is necessary in order to illustrate the operations' to be deseijbed. The'central or main exchange Yhas a battery, R, which has aconsiderable power or capacity, a telephone apparatus and battery, It, and a key,-'1t.'v --Ordinarily'th'e mainJineWires, through the key R, post 1", and wire 1'', will be in communication with the telephone, that connection being preserved by spring-r The ground-wire of the mainbattery is represented at '1".

.The auxiliary apparatus herelnbefore dcscribed is arranged at an auxiliary station r'epres'ented'by Y.

At W, I, have" indicated the station, house,

No. 2,:an'd'so on in order. I

It'will' be understood that the number of local users may be'varied-at pleasure, and

1 6 or ofliceiof user No: 1, and at Wthat of user while in the apparatus I haveshow'n conneclions for four local users, such number may be increased or lessened, as. may be desired, by adding or taking ofl'theappliances described 5 as belonging to each local circuit and shortening orlengthe'ning or keeping in proper-proportion the contact-faces of the rotating disks. Each local user is to havetelephone apparatus and battery, as indicated at B; but by prefer once a relay, R, is to be inserted in the line of his battery-wires s and witlra calling key or button at r. Thegrelay. will "operates; bellringing apparatus, :rflin the usual way.-

That the operation of this apparatus may be x5 fully understood, I will assume, first, that a local user-say No. l--de'sires to converse with the operator at thexnain exchange, or to send some message through him. To do this he closes his circuit in the usual way, electrical act-ion then taking place-throughhis'cii'cuit,

by wire 8 to post 3, by wire b, contactipiece e, its tail-piece e, knob :0, arm cl of lever D, armaturevlever h, magnet H, plate 10, post 7, to the ground. This results in depressing the rear'end of lever h releases the hooks at it, and thereupon theleverD turns on its pivot in the post D" tothe position shown by the dotted lines in Fig; 2, with the following re 'sults: First, the pin d on the locking-arm d, passi ng down the underlying slot'g of the looking-harG, shifts the latter to the right, so as -to lock outall other. co-uscrs, substantially in the manner described in Patent No. 223,201,

above referred toysecond, the knob a: ceases of it, so as to break-thatline of electrical communication, and'also let itspring overtill the bent or hookend comes in contact with the switch-post From; that points new circuit is thus established for the local user through switch-post 2', its foot '5, wire a, plate-8, wire a, post 0, magnet A, wire a, post 1, and wire a, to the central exchange.' Asa third'rcsult, the shifting of the locking-bar breaks the connection of the support G with theset-screw g, and breaks the previously-existingmain-line circuit. Hence one and only one circuit now exists-via, from local user No. 1 to the main exchange, through the auxiliary exchange. Conversation may be had or messages sent over this circuit in the usual way, and if the local user desires it, hemay' be switched into communication at the main exchange' with any other telephone: user having a wire connection of any kind with such main exchange.

After conversation is through, the main oporator restores the apparatus to the normal or 7 zero position by rotatingthe shaft F until the wrist n on'the'disk B engages the unlocking-arm d and shifts the lever D back to its,

previous position, whereby the local circuitis restored through the rel-engagement of the hooks at h?,--the locking-bar G is reversed, so

as to unlock the connections of other co'user's,

the'main-lline circuit through G g is restored, and ,thecircuit'frcm the local user to the main to bear on the switch -spri ng e? and-moves clear To restore theappara't s to a 'z'eidoi neutral exchange through the posts and switch-sprin eisbroken..- I H Assuming, now, as a second opcration that the main operator desires to call for any pur--,. 7o 7 pose any one of the localusers-say, for, e:r-' ample, No. 1to this end he operates, his key'R by a quickmotionrso' as to bring his .main battery R intocircuitr Making andbreaking circuit in this'way results througlrys the interventionand. actionot the magnet A in giving; one revolution to the escape nentshaft 1?,- (the weight attached to the cordpot course, being the actuating-power,) so that the ,away from the unlocking-arm d of the lever' D,

so that the pin; d? of the locking-lever D drops intothe underlying slot g of the locking-bar G and shifts iti'to the right, with the result already setfo'rth, both as to looking out local usersrand; by shifting the support G away from the screw 9', breaking the'previously-ex- 9o isting main circuit. The first half of the-stepwhich produced this rotation, 01' the movement of the escapement P which results from depressing the key B into contact with the contact-post r, and thereby closing thecircuit attha't point, also brings the projection c of the disk B, which is properly arranged with 7 reference tothat end, into contact with'the corresponding contact-piece e',whereby a new mainline circuit is made from the central exchange to the plate 8, as before, thence by the wire a, cont-afi-piece-efl-disk B, shalt P,

disk B, projection c, contact-piece e',wire b,

post 3, and wire s, to ,the bell-ringing relay of user No. 1. By keeping the key depressed thebell will becaused to ring as long as may he desired; The projection c is long enough to keep up coutactwith e, even after the key R is raised and after the latter .part of; the

rotary movemcntof the shaft P'is' completed The main exchange and user No. 1 are then in telephonic communication. At the same time,

however,'the electrical charge which rings the bell of user No. 1 will operate the armaturele ver h, so as to unlock or disengage the hooks at h as already described; but as the lever 1) can not turn far before being caught by the locking-bar G, (already shifted,) Ilcave room for it-to drop a short distance-far enough at least to bring the'upper end of .the'escape' 12.0 meat-arm (if under an insulator, o, arranged tor-the purpose in the end of the armatur'ede- -ver h. The local circuit or ground=coiihection of No. 1 is thereby broken. .This p isitton of the-devices named isillustratcd iii- El '5 position the main operator,: by operating his keyR by quick motions, rotates the shaft P nntllthe wristn on the disk B engages the arm d of the disengaged lever, D and tilts'it back to po'sitiornso as to'restore the local'circult, and also bytiltinz bacl the lever Dlto 45 v 1 or exchange, but also-with the same wire a,

restore the locking-bar G to its normal posi-' tion, and also restore-the main-line circuit.

If user No. 2 is'wanted', the main operator,

I instead of holding dowuhis key It, as above described, releases it. quickly, so that little or practically no alarm is sounded at No. 1.- He then again depresses his key R, which causes the shaft I to rotate another half-step, clear the projection c from its contact-piece e,.and bring the projection c of the diskB to its contactspicce e,- but the projections c c, and soon through the series, aresoproportioned and adjusted, as illustrated in Fig. 4,-that at each successive closing olthe circuitby the key-R one projection will be caused to clear .its contact-piece,- and the next to engage its contact-piece, but without any interruption be tween. one contact and the next, so that the circuit shall not be broken. at that place. The main operator, havingrthus inade a circuit through d and c with user N0; 2, holds hisbutton down long enough to-give the desired alarm, and so call user No. 2, after which he -'raises' his button and talks through his telephone as may be desired. Other parts of this operation are already described with reference to user No. 1, and-the apparatus is restoredin like manner. Any other user may be called in like manner-by further rotation of the shaft P, the relationship of the projections c to a being, in succession, the same as, alrea'dy described. 3 v p Iflasathird operation, any user-say No. 1-

' 'wishes to converse with a co-usersay No. 2-

they are obviouslyin telephonic communication, not only with the main exchange, but also with-eachother. As soon as they are through, the main operatorris so informed, and he restores theapparatusiu' the manner already described, to its neutral position.

If local. user No, 1 desiresto converse with user No. 3 or 4, the'same course is followed as in the caselast supposed, except that the op-, erator at the central exchange continues to cause the rotation of the shaft P until disk B or B, as the case may be, comes around with its projection a or cin contact with the cone spending contact-piece '6: or. 'e; This being done,-the. appropriate bell is rung, as before" described, and'at'terthe partiesare through;-

conversing the. apparatnsis restored to the 'neutral position. In this use of the apparatus 5'.

it will be observed that the circuit from user made unduly great.

wire a, and also that the eircuitinade from the central exchange to user No. 2, '3, or 4 passes, in the line of connections already described, through c c or e. c or e e, thence by shaft P, disks B ,;cont-act-pieee a to the same wire a. tersection or connecting-link for all the circuits, of which three can be made and used at one time.

It will be understood that in order to restore the apparatus to the zero or neutral'positionthe main operator must rotatethe shaft "1 through or past all the contact pieces or connections; but this'cau easily be done, since he already as an operating-circuit, which, while changing from the projection and con tact-piece of one.disk to those of the next, is

.in factuuinterrupted; but the motion or stroke that breaks the last circuit of theseries through c e must first raise the unlo'cking-leverD and make anew or restore the old main-line circuit by shifting the" lockiugbar G so as to throw its support G against the setscrew g, as already described. This lever D, the first of the scrics it will be understood, is simply a locking and unlocking apparatus, and does not form a part of any telephonic circuit.

Now, *witha small number of local userssay, two to five, more or less-the disk B,

Fig. 4, and its contact-piecee perform no function whatever, and I have shown them merely to indicate their place in the series. They may be wholly dispensed with, except insofar as relates to the wristn and its connection with P, so as to restore the lever D to its neutral position; but when the number of local users is increased to ten or fifteen, more or less, and the disks and connections correspon'dingly' multiplied, it may be found that the power necessary to restore all the connections at It, or so many of them as may be broken, is greater than can readily be pro- I-Ieuce the latter forms a common in- ICO duced by the battery R unless its power he In order, then, that two, three, or more rotative steps of the shaft 1? may be employed for restoring the broken connections at It and the power be distributed through a longer distance, I make the disk 73, as. shown in 5, with a projection, c, and so arrange and proportion it that asthe lastproje'ction and contact-piece of the 'series breaks connectionthe projection c willengage its contact-piece e, and, making a circuit through it and through the wire I), post 2, and ground-.

wire 10, will provide an operating-circuit through-which: the main operator can continue, the rotation of I till the'apparatus cornesto the neutral position; and the circuitthrough c e m ust beke'pt up 'u util the old circuit through support G and set-screw y is restoredby the unlocking and shifting of the locking-bar, as

already described.

- heform and arrangement of the devices described may be varied more or less at. pleas v ure without any substantial departure from No..".l' to the central eachange passes through,

the scope'of. my invention, provided no material change is made in function or in the method of operation by virtue of which such function is secured, and mechanical equivalents are hereby expressly included herein.

I claimherein as my invention-- 1. In an auxiliary telephonic exchange sys tem of apparatus, a main-line circuit through the supports of the locking-bar, and independent of 1311610031 circuits, a magnet, an arma ture, an escapement, a shaft rotated by the escapement, and a moving-lever,'D, combined substantially as described, whereby, on the rotating of the "shaft, a new circuit-will vbe formed from the main exchange with a local user, and the locking-bar atthc same time and by the same motion be shifted to lock out all other local users, substantially as set forth.

2. In an auxiliary telephonicexchange system of apparatus,'having a main-line circuit terminating at the auxiliary exchange, and a series of two or more independent local circults, also terminating at the auxiliary exchange, a magnet, H, for breaking the local circuit, and for releasing an apparatus by which to break the main circuit, and a switchspring, e, automatically operating to make a' new circuit between the local user and the central exchange on'the breaking of the other circuits, substantially as set forth.

3. In asystem of telephonic apparatus hav' i mg a central exchange, an auxiliary exchange, I I i .and a series of two or more local circuits, each and a series of two or more local instruments, a single main-line wire running from the central to the auxiliary exchange; and; having there a ground-connection, and having also an interposed magnet arranged toefl'ect, at the pleasure of the main operator, the rotation of the shaftP', for breaking and restoring such circuit, and simultaneously maki ngand breaking a circuit with a local exchange, in combi;

nation with a magnet arranged in each local circuit 'for breaking such local circuit at the pleasure of the'user, and also breakingthe main circuit, and making-a circuit connection with the central exchange, whereby t.-1ephonic communications. may be had and the apparatus be operated over such single main-line wire, substantially as set forth. r

4. A series'of two or more levers, D, hav-.. ing each a connection by an arm, d, with an armature, h, an arm, d, operated in restoring connections by a wrist, n, rotating on a shaft, 1?, a weighted arm, (2, and pin dfto Shift the locking-bar,in combinatiomby shonldenknob,

or projection a", with switch-spring c" and switch-post t, as a combination o f devices to:

tially as set forth:

levers D wire a and a aratus to rotate the v iv PP disks, whereby a working connection can be kept up from one disk to the uext,and electrical communication may he had through any switchpost by wire a withthe central exchange, substantially as set forth.

, 6. As a means to break the main circuit from the main exchange, and alsoto restore. the apparatus to a neutral position, a lever,- D, having arms (1 d in combinationwith' ro tatiug shaft Pand locking-bar G, substan- 7. In an auxiliary telephonic exchange sys-.-

.tem of apparatus, havinga'main-line circuit terminating at the auxiliary exchange, and a series of two. or more independent local circuits, also terminating at the auxiliary ex change, the lever D, having arms at d, in combination with disk 13, having a projection,'.c, Fig. 5, whereby to preserve an operative circuit through contact-piece e, afte'r the connection ofithe last local user has been passed and while rotating the shaft P, in restoring the apparatus to its zero or neutral position, sub

stantially asset forth. I

,8. In combination with a main-line circuit terminating by ground-connections at the an xiliary exchange, and having means operative from the central exchange and from the instrument oi the local user for breaking such the same wires in either direction, a rotating shaft provided-with disks and projections provided with wrists for engaging the armsconnections and making a new circuit over of escapement-levers, whereby the operator at the central exchange is enabled by his electrical connection over the same main-line wire to restorethe apparatus to the zero or neutral position, and simultaneously restore the independent main-lineand local circuits, substantially as set forth. v In testimony whereof I have hereunto set, my'haud. r 1 ;-"--enonen WESTINGHOUSE,--5n;

Witnesses: f R}; H. WHrrrLnsnY,

GEORGE H. Cr nisrr. 

